by Carolyn Burge

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DIY Mailbox – Volunteer Appreciation Idea

I finally finished a project that I have been working on for a few weeks. I wanted to create a way for kids and parents to say thank you to the volunteers who help on Sunday mornings. I created a mailbox, where kids can mail a thank you card. We set up tables in an open area where parents and kids could work on making a card together. Then, once they finished making their card, they could mail it in the mailbox. At the end of the month, we will distribute all the thank you cards to the volunteers. I printed off a list of all the volunteers for each room, so parents could find the names of the volunteers if they need them. If you want to create your own mailbox, this is how you can do it:

I went to my local used clothing/furniture store, and picked up this set of shelves. Once I looked it over, I thought I could make a front part that would hold the “opening” where letters could be mailed.

I own a jig saw & a sander, but that’s all. I made a template out of poster board so that I could make any adjustments before I cut the actual wood.

I assembled the template to make sure it would all fit together. I took measurements, purchased the wood that I would need, and got the straight pieces of wood cut (for free) at Home Depot. I just cut the curved pieces with my jig saw, and sanded everything down.

Once the ‘drawer’ piece was cut and assembled using wood glue & finishing nails, I cut an opening in the front piece for the drawer to fit into. I used 4 tiny hinges to attach the drawer to the front panel.

I tested it out to make sure it would fit. I sanded down the sides a little more so the drawer would open & close easily. Before I attached the front panel to the shelves, I painted everything with 2 coats of paint. I decided it would be easier to paint it before it was assembled.

Once the paint was dry, I attached the front panel with screws. I also attached the handle, and a sign holder from Staples. I decided a to use a sign holder so I could change out the sign to use the mailbox for different projects. I attached a larger piece of wood with hinges for the back, and used sticky velcro to keep it closed.

I set up tables with cards, markers & instructions. I found printable thank you cards from My Sister’s Suitcase blog. You can download them for free HERE.

We will leave the supplies on the tables for all the Sundays in May, so families can have plenty of opportunity to participate.

Once they finish making a card, they can put it in an envelope that is provided, write the volunteer’s name on the front, and mail it in the mailbox.

So far, the mailbox has been very popular. It’s a way for families to show their appreciation to the volunteers who serve their kids so faithfully. At the end of May, we will collect all the cards, and distribute them to all the volunteers, making sure that each volunteer gets at least one.